Kellerbier Primer

I agree with this. Exceptions are out there like the Kellerpils I mentioned.

 

"If you take away only one message from this story, it’s that in terms of the beers you’ll encounter in the U.S., keller bier is unfiltered lager."
Sounds pretty damn fine to me. Bring it!

 

What you are describing here is consistent with the BJCP style guidelines:

“Kellerbier: Pale Kellerbier

A very common seasonal summer beer brewed by many of the Munich area breweries and served in the beer gardens, where they are very popular.”

And,

“Kellerbier: Amber Kellerbier

The original style of Kellerbier from the Franconia area of Germany. A much older style compared to the relatively more recent pale Helles-Style Kellerbier that is popular in the Munich area today.”

Cheers!

 

Go figure! Good to know I'm not just imagining things. As far as exceptions go, Spezial's Ungespundetes would be one. A friend of mine that lives nearby even commented that it has gotten drier and paler in recent years. Near Munich, the new'ish Franziskaner example mimicks the ones further north. It's light brown and toasty/nutty. The one-off Andechs example from 2004 was also along those lines. Paulaner's Zwick'l doesn't really resemble either type, although I really liked it.